Do These 3 Things When You’re Ready for a Career Change

Whether you’ve been in the working world for a while now or have just started out, you might realize that you’re not in the right place—professionally speaking. Perhaps you are ready for a career change after years of success in one specific business vertical, or want to pivot before you even start.

Regardless of the reasons or motivations, there are a few things you should do to set out on the right path to moving into a new position.

Let’s get into it!

Make a Well-Informed Decision

Your first order of business will be to decide what your next business endeavor will entail. Do you want to work for someone else, take a sabbatical, or become an entrepreneur? Whatever you choose to do, you should be intentional in your efforts after thoroughly examining all of your options.

Here are some questions to get started:

• Do you have enough money saved to move to a new job?
• Are you qualified for a new position, or will you need to go back to school?
• Will you have to relocate for the job?
• What are your short and long-term goals with this career?
• Do you want to work for someone else?
• Would you like to be the boss and open your own business?

Once you have honestly answered these questions, you can start moving forward with your career-focused decision-making and planning.

Get Your Docs in a Row

Depending upon your chosen trajectory, you may decide to go back to school and pursue another degree, such as a doctorate in your area of expertise, a trade certification, or even open your own business. All of these avenues will require earning or applying for specific documentation to further your interests.

If you opt for an entrepreneurial approach, you’ll need to put together the appropriate identifying paperwork, such as a Tax ID. You can go to your local government offices or visit their websites to learn how to get a Tax ID Number. This number is essential to filing your company’s taxes and conducting business overall. It will be used time and again throughout the life of your business for a variety of reasons to comply with the law.

Related: Read our guide to creating an LLC for freelancers, contract workers, overemployed, and digital nomads

Create a Plan—and Revisit it Regularly

Plans are put in place for a reason—they’re guides and roadmaps to refer to as time passes or things change and you need to refocus or reframe your efforts. Changing your career means changing your old plan and replacing it with a new one. The updated plan does not have to be a reinvention of the proverbial wheel. You may only need to recalibrate or shift a few things around to make a clear path toward a new goal.

At other times, such as when you are starting a new company, you will need a brand new business plan to draw from. Watch this video to learn the best practices for creating a business plan:

When the time comes to change careers, do it the right way by researching how to start your own business. When you go into starting a business with eyes wide open, you will be better prepared for what lies ahead—a successful future.

About the Author

Heather is a freelance writer who loves exploring the intersection of travel and history. Read her other articles on Frayed Passport here.

Featured image by Yan Krukau on Pexels